Test by @Macarlo
Windows 2000 Professional Beta Tester
(Screenshots by Embellish)

 Hello All...
I was just seeking for a decent browser to replace Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 on Windows XP Professional when Opera Software announced the release of his newest browser, Opera 6.0 Beta 1 for Windows 32 bits environment...Quickly I sucked this fine piece of software using my MS Explorer 6.0, that is also a fine browser...The problem is that MS IE is very heavy for my preferences: I'm needing a browser light, agile, but really mighty. I'm supporting Opera since his first Beta (I used it intensively on OS/2 Warp 4.0 through his WinOS2 (16 bits) emulation and this browser runs rather than Netscape Navigator. I remember that I loaded at the same time 16 pages from the OS/2 Supersite using my Opera purchased in BMT Micro, Inc. (Thomas Bradford) and I encountered not any problem. Photo below shows my MS IE sucking Opera 6 file (ow32enen600b1.exe, 3.34MB) from the developers website.

I evaluated all new releases of Opera on Warp, Linux and Windows 2000 Professional. Now I'm evaluating apps & tools on Windows XP (finally Microsoft made an Operating System that can runs like OS/2 Warp, but requesting terrific hardware for a absolute nice performance; currently I'm running my Web IDE for Windows Platform on a Compaq Presario Series 5000 (5004LB, Pentium III 1.000Ghz + 512MB RAM and I'm very happy with this machine). In the photo below you can see my new Opera importing my extensive bookmark.htm file (above 200KB) from MS IE environment...

...normally this importing task consumes some minutes if you are performing it from MS IE (e.g. importing bookmarks from Netscape to MS IE) and involving several clicks on various options; from Opera 6 you click just one time and that is all: in just one second you entire tree of bookmarks is imported and you can surf the Net fine, quickly, easy, smooth, without crashes or freezes using this nice piece of software made by Opera developers. Photo below shows the importing task concluded and the browser presents the version screen.

Next photo below shows Opera 6 starting at the first time in my desktop after the entire configuration process (no reboot needed, few seconds required to do it).

 Next photo below shows Opera 6 loading some pages at the same time in few seconds in my Windows XP Professional Web IDE. I evaluated this new browser loading at the same time dozens of pages but I decided don't show this photo here because it is very confuse.

This new browser really runs rather than all others on Windows XP, just because it is not based in the archaic Mosaic: Opera is an new-fashioned browser conception, light, fast and powerful. Finally, I don't rate betas here but in this case I'm forced to make an exception: I'm rating it the maximum for a soft - Five Butterflies.

 
Five Butterflies for the best

 New features in Opera 6.0 for Windows

Please see the Reviewer's Guide at www.opera.com/press/reviewer for more in-depth explanations.

New look

Opera's user interface has received a major overhaul with a new start-up dialog, default simple main bar (that can be enlarged to a full menubar by right-clicking), skin and panels in a blue and white color scheme. Users can choose default, classic Opera look or their own design.

Panels

Users can place their favorite Web pages in panels that are displayed in the Hotlist during their browsing session. Web pages for panels have to be optimized to the hotlist size. Panels are available at my.opera.com.

Single/Multiple Document Interface

At start-up, users can select a single or multiple document interface (SDI/MDI). Opera is most known for its multiple document interface, but users of IE and Netscape may feel more at ease in the single document interface, and can graduate later as advanced users to the multiple document interface.

Hotclick

Double-click a word or right-click a selected phrase and a pop-up menu is displayed full of powerful features including search, encyclopedia look-up, and translation.

Personal Bar

Users can organize and personalize favorite bookmarks and searches in one place.

Pagebar

New pagebar in the single document interface mode (SDI) lets users keep track of visited Web pages and drag bookmarks from the Personal Bar to the pagebar.

Bookmarks

Users can search bookmarks or sort them by title, date created, when visited or customize their own ordering.

Drag and drop

Drag and drop bookmarks between hotlist and the Personal Bar.

Preferences

The preferences section has been reorganized and has a new look. For quick access to important preferences, simply press [F12].

Keyboard shortcuts

New keyboard shortcuts in addition to the many popular easy full keyboard shortcuts already in Opera.

Unicode

For the first time, Opera supports the Unicode Worldwide Character Set, making Opera available in local languages for the Asian/Pacific and Eastern European regions.

LiveConnect

Opera now has support for LiveConnect, to enable scripting of Java applets and plug-ins through JavaScript.

Run more than one Opera

Users can now run more than one instance of Opera at a time, thereby letting different users of one computer use separate preferences for set- up, e-mail, bookmarks, etc.

Improved window handling

Switch easily between document windows with the new Ctrl+Tab feature.

E-mail

New import update lets users import e-mail from Microsoft Outlook accounts. Added Transport Layer Security (TLS) support for POP and SMTP accounts increases e-mail security.

Standards-Compliance

Opera continues its commitment to the standards as laid out by the W3C. Opera 6.0 for Windows supports the following technologies: 128-bit encryption, TLS 1.0, SSL 2 and 3, CSS1 and partial CSS2, XML, HTML 4.01, HTTP 1.1, ECMAScript, JavaScript 1.3, WAP/WML and partial support for DOM.

Availability

Opera 6.0 for Windows Beta 1 is available for free in an ad-sponsored version at www.opera.com/download. After download, users can register the browser for USD 39 to remove the small banner ad.

However, all users who registered and paid for Opera 5.x for Windows are entitled to a free upgrade to Opera 6.0 for Windows. Users who registered and paid for Opera 4.x and who were entitled to a free upgrade to 5.x, will not receive a free upgrade to Opera 6.x but can upgrade at a discount.

About Opera Software

Opera Software ASA is an industry leader in the development of Web browsers for the desktop and device markets, partnering with companies such as IBM, AMD, Symbian, Canal+ Technologies, Ericsson, Sharp and Lineo. The Opera browser has received international recognition from end-users and the industry press for being faster, smaller and more standards-compliant than other browsers. Opera Software ASA is a privately held company headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Learn more about Opera at www.opera.com.

Contacts

Opera Software ASA

Pål A. Hvistendahl
Communications Director
Tel: +47 99 72 43 31
E-mail: pal@opera.com

Katherine Barrios
PR Manager Americas & Asia/Pacific
Tel: 1-888-624-4846
E-mail: uspress@opera.com

@Macarlo, Inc.
@Macarlo's Shareware & Web
OS/2
Java Lobby Member
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